Hello Class,
In both current and past times, hallucinogens have been used for both medical and spiritual uses. Psychedelics have shown a great interest in the therapeutic setting in contemporary medicine.
Psychedelics like Psilocybin and LSD hallucinogens that have grown and peaked interest. Class, do you believe these hallucinogens can negatively or positively affect a person's mental health? Do you believe any of the long-term effects can be beneficial? Upon completing some research, I
have learned there is research stating that hallucinogen substances may affect a person's mental health in a positive manner (Griffiths et al., 2016; Carhart-Harris et al., 2016). I also learned that many cultures do integrate hallucinogens into spiritual practices. I always find this to be fascinating because I have an opportunity to learn about other cultures and how they incorporate the drug. "Use of hallucinogens goes back centuries in many cultures, and some are still used in religious ceremonies to experience spiritual or heightened states of awareness" (Hartney, 2023).
References
Carhart-Harris, R. L., et al. (2016). Psilocybin with psychological support for treatment-resistant depression: an open-label feasibility study. The Lancet Psychiatry, 3(7), 619–627.
Griffiths, R. R., et al. (2016). Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 30(12), 1181–1197.
Hartney, E. (2023). What Are Psychadelic Drugs? Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/types-of-psychedelic-drug-22073
